FFB ‘toasts’ English Wine Week for the fifth year running

Food from Britain (FFB), the market development consultancy for British food and drink producers, ‘raised a glass’ to English wine as it announces its fifth year of support for English Wine Week.

Organised by English Wine Producers (EWP), this year’s English Wine Week runs from 26 May – 3 June and will promote and develop awareness of English vineyards and the competitive quality of their produce. 

The national campaign will see vineyards throughout the country promoting themselves to the public, offering tastings, vineyard tours, special events and working with other outlets.  Many vineyards have also linked up with retailers, bars and restaurants and also this year with hotels and wine merchants to offer tastings and discounts to the public.  The on and off trade will also be on board again as more and more outlets are now stocking English wine, and making customers aware of the quality of English wines. 

This year, the on and off-trade can take advantage of a series of specially developed point of sale materials supplied by Food from Britain, to help create eye-catching and informative displays, which will serve for English Wine Week and English Wine promotions that are taking place throughout the year.

Interest in English wine has grown dramatically over the last few years with sales rising year-on-year and many producers winning awards over their better-known rivals.  In particular, England is home to some outstanding sparkling wines, giving the Champagne region a run for its money.

The British weather has also had a huge impact on the growth of the English wine market in recent years in relation to economic sustainability.  The rise in average temperatures in Britain is making all the difference in the world to the English wine making industry, which is expected to expand by 50 per cent over the next year.   

According to Mike Roberts at Ridgeview Wines, “The last decade of change in climate has certainly made grape growing better and more fruitful.  Conditions here now produce sparkling wines that rival champagne and outclass those from California, South Africa and Australia.  For one thing, the grapes in those three countries have to be harvested early leaving the final product duller and less fruity because they ripen too quickly in hotter conditions.”

Mike continued: “Since our vines were first planted in 1994, there has been many days every year with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius, something virtually unheard of in the three previous decades. The English growing season is now closer than ever in being in line with the traditional French season”.

English wine tourism is also a growing market in the UK, with many vineyards acting as tourist attractions in their own right, offering vineyard tours and wine tastings as well as providing shops, restaurants and even accommodation. The week aims to encourage consumers to make the most of the facilities offered.

Kirsty Grieve, regional food and drink manager at FFB comments: “FFB is proud to be supporting English Wine Week for the fifth year running and it is a great opportunity for English wine producers to demonstrate the taste, supreme quality and variety of their wines to both trade and consumers.”

Kirsty continued: “Our sponsorship of this week is part of a wider Defra funded initiative to promote the quality and diversity of the UK’s regional food and drink. We are delighted that through working with English Wine Producers for the past five years, FFB has made a real difference to English winemakers, helping them showcase their excellent produce, that they otherwise may not have been able to do.” 

If you are interested in taking part in English Wine Week and would like to receive POS material please contact EWP on 01536 772264, email info@englishwinerproducers.com or FFB on 020 7240 2444.

-Ends-

Note to Editors:

Food from Britain, the market development consultancy for British food and drink producers, has been commissioned by Defra to develop and implement a programme of support for the British regional food and drink sector.  It is being delivered in association with a network of regional food and drink groups, and encompasses trade development, consumer awareness and increasing producer competitiveness.

10 May 2007